Mrs. E.C. Cobb

Cobb, Mrs. E. C., Moran, Coryl

United States, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

1936-04-02

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wpalh002832

agricultureeducationnarrativesrecreation

Document text

Mks/. B. C. Cobb (wife of Dr. 1.41.C. Cobb) C. Moran
Sun Prairie
April 2, 1936
Person]. History
Mrs. E. C. Cobb w‘is horn in the township of Bristol, near
Sun Prairie. Her parents came by Horse, and wagon from Prattsville,
New York, to diseonsin. The horses were shipped to Milwaukee by
boat over Great Lakes. Evrom that city they continued their trip
on horseback as roads were in such bad condition. They finally
settled on the farm near Bristol Which Mr. Jacob M. Haver (Mrs. Cob
father) bought from the Government and. from Bristol. The farm is
still owned by ilars., Cobb and, her sisters. The family later moved to
Sun Prairie, but always kept the farm.
Mrs Haver, (Mrs Cobb's mother) was once called the "smartest
woman in ilisconsinn. In an article written in a Boston newspaper by
a minister who had visited Wisconsin. Shr rightfully earned this
title by her ability in spinning, weaving, sewing, knitting, as well
as her excellent management of the home and family. She even worked
out in the field with her husband. and was a most capable. woman.
Both Mr. Mrs. Flaver, pioneer settlers, were members of the
Methodist Church. About two and a half miles north of Sun Prairie
is a little lake called. 001d take, n or Patrick Lake or Brazee Lake.
Old. time Methodist Camp Meetings were held on this lake shore, and
Mr. Haver here be cane converted and. vas baptized. in this *1101d. Lake
as were several others who attended meeting.

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Mrs. ,-;o'db
Mrs. Moran
The farm was large and. most of the work done by the entire
family. The butter was churned by horse powe r.i A long rod con-
nected with churning container was turned by a horse who walked round
and round. i a circles. A dog also furnished the power for churning
butter, by treading inl\whe e thus turning the churn. Mrs. Cobb -t -s-:
o a. -the- ap le ndi d butter she made, as she furnished.
the-Park_lia_te_1- and-saveral_place_s here -xi th butter which was all
Ther-gtrls-woul d- of te -icro t -11S-dis-On with the Mother
and have' great fun- Efiliair shopping.
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The young people delighted ia playing croquet, hor4eback riding
r
was one of their chief diversions. Chautauqua held at Madison on -S-z
site of present Olin park, was called "The M o no n a Lake Assembly,"
and it was a great treat for the yeinig people.
(-,-"A very- common ,e xprea si on. or_. admonition -used-int re.- Cobirrg- a'arly
fio*P.:- lifer -yea-. “Be careful, or you' ll lose yourbbolst heels. Tit-ia-
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prel)aleary--oziginata d--fr em-tha--time-her-- -f a ther-b-race-&-, hi ms e 1 f--,„.. ,wkri-le
Jen, .5...4..
.-..iy „I
oriThcerse--,bacirr'armt-loet--hl e-lt o lit -he e -la- -1 n- ae-oie&-ug
ua...-4,t4041
•f;
__ Much of the p owe r use d, in threshing was ,furni she d. by horse a `1

*t-,,
four or six span being use d-2for this purpose he sheaves of grain
;ta
were tie d. by hand the hay was FAO" wi th a n cradle ;I ae,ateh,t. of
•.f 41.--f
the work of -threshing was done by handi i t usually required two weeks
to finish.';.,
_
'' Tite-,,wei)rher-o-111- arlfiCE5a7 we re o f -b -r to:IF-1. a/ a -kir-a-A-0-'7e
tai-11-!Agg Efigili i afej----9 ii-Viririe*.rintifdilieiii-the----kisbund:- -They- we rir---",
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Mrs. Cobb Mrs Moran
AINNI1 (NOISIMQ
very/ picturesque and one of the duties-e-rierlfri-ers-of the children
was -to- keep- these walks free from the weeds which grew between the
stones and bricks. These walks are still in us/
The School building, erected five years. ago, worth $100,000,
is an outstanding grade and high school. It is splendidly equipped
witk\gymnasiumi Also a fdivier movie machine,, bought -by- the -school.
place
A very beautiful in summer, is Mr. Miller's "Rainbow Gardens"
a short distance from the main street of the village. The peonies,
iris, ,and gladioli ars_very lovely when
in bloom and dra'w, many
visitors to Sun Prairie. Mr: Miller is In the business commercially
selling flowers, shipping bulbsfriiik,ing orders for both. Mr. Miller
Is very well known among flower growers of the country, as is
"Rainbow Gardens."
Among the imertant organizations of Sun Prairie are the

"isanyrs Daughters" a non sectarian, charitable group. The Twentieth
Century Club, whose object is to promote 4ocial) intellectual and_
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civics imp ro ve me at). s a literary club, o-ne.--eikawh unese fo
-in 19011
F_ res, Mr's. Sarach elitjr Mann, who was also its first president. Mrs
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Manilla sister of Ars. Cobb alaCt started the Public Library.
TwenkiliAL.-camtater-4-1-111r-cice.s---muchl-fai—the-Ialbrarg. The Garden Cltib,
holisii;Members'are. both men and women, 'have done much to rnalo3 Sun
,r," •,s
Prairie-, -a' most: attractive pl,aoe tOlo101gorrePeeileittionfiropieos
The Lion's Club abonsors -the "Fall -Fe Stival" at Angell Park
r'annnaT'af.fair- The Garden. dinb oo..operates withi the Lion's Club'
I f
.6' e
SitdCessful

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Mrs. Moran
:t-
fill•rr>
Dr., Cobb had carved. a'little wooden statue, an Englishman,
with long mustache, hands in ki pockets, standing in a very attentive
attitude. It illustrates the following story. The Englishman had
_ gome to a house to beg something.. The lady of the house asked him'
why he didn't take his hands from his pockets, and tell her what he
wanted, !Madam", he said, “Its a pair of braces Ilm needing."
The clubs mentioned above, meet in ,the community room. of the
Public, Library. This room was furnished by the Kings Daughters and
Twefltiet Ce ntury_r c.lub.
About 3.840a, some people drove from tillwau.kee, with oxen and
A
aarts:to' start work on the capital, them being built. The weather
Was: stormy, the 'skies dark all of the, way, but, jUst as they. came
,to-Althere Sun Prairie now stands, the sun cane out in all, of its
a t
•g10ry, so they decided to se ttle there and call. the place /Sun Prairie."
There ;le, no other town or village in the ited States by
that nail*. There is only one Sun Prairie Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
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